Fish-plate.



L. W. AGKERSON.

FISH PLATE.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 9. 190B.

Patented July 6, 1909.

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UNITED T OFFICE.

LESLIE W. AGKERSON, OF SUOOASUNNA, NEW JERSEY.

FISH-PLATE To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LnsLln W. AoKEnsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Succasunna, in the county of Morris and State of New Jersey,have invented new and useful Improvements in Fish-Plates, of which the:l'ollowing is a specification.

This invention. relates to fish plates for uniting the adjoining ends ofrailway rails, and has for its object to make a firmer and smootherjoint than has heretofore been practicable by the use of similarsplices.

hflore especially the object is to counteract the tendency of the railsto yield at their end under the weight of a train and so insure apractically level track for the train to run ever.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novelconstruction of fish plates hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an enlarged. sectional viewupon the line 1-1 of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device,showing the same in applied position connecting the meeting ends of apair of rails.

In the accompanying drawings the numerals 1-1 designate the meeting endsof a pair of rails. These rails 1 are of the usual con struction beingprovided with a head 2, web 3 and base flange 4.

The improved fish plates are of the L- shaped construction, comprising abase or covering flange 5 and the vertical flange 6. The flange 6 isadapted to fit tightly beneath the head 2 of the rail and to embrace theweb 3 thereof. The inner face of the flange 6 is provided with acentrally arranged longitudinally extending groove 7, and the outerupper portion of the flange is cut away longitudinally so as to form aslightly reduced portion beneath the head of the rail which is adaptedto terminate a slight distance from the sides of the head 2, thusobviating any liability of the-vertical flange 6 of the plates beingcontacted by the flanges of the wheels of the rolling stock and at thesame time providing an exceedingly strong con- Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed. June 9, 1908.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Serial No. 437,572.

nection. for the ends of the rails. The covering flange 5 is adapted toextend a suitable distance beyond the edges of the base flange 4, andthese covering flanges are provided with. a plurality of openingsadjacent the edges 01 the base flanges. These openings are adapted forthe reception of the usual spikes 8, and the spikes are adapted tocontact with the edges of the base flanges ol' the rails, thuseffectively securing the fish plate in position upon the rail as well aseffectively gecuring the rail upon the ties of the road )ed.

The vertical members 6 ol' the fish plates are provided with aliningopenings adapted to register with similar openings in the web of therail, and these openings are adapted for the reception of retainingelements 9, by which the fish plates and rail are connected together.The upper face of the covering flange 5 is adapted to slant at an angleapproximately equaling that ol' the upper faces of the base flanges 4 ofthe rails, and in order that the plates may be constructed as heavy asneed be to accomplish the purpose for which they are intended, thecovering flanges 5 are provided with grooves or cut away portionsimmediately below the openings provided for the retaining elements, andthese openings or cut away portions are adapted to afford ample room forthe reception of the head of the retaining elements and the manipulationof the nuts upon the threaded end of the elements.

Having thus fully described the invention what is claimed as new is:

The combination with the meeting ends of a pair of rails, of fish platesfor the rails, said fish plates comprising each a horizontal flange anda vertical flange, the vertical flanges having their inner facescontacting the webs of the rails and their upperportions underlying theheads of the rails, the vertical members being provided withlongitudinally extending cut away portions directly beneath the heads ofthe rails, the horizontal flanges extending at an angle to and beyondthe base flanges of the rails, said horizontal flanges being provided.with a plurality of transverse recesses having their lower walls flangesol' the rails and adapted for the rearranged substantially horizontaland terinioeption of the spikes. 10 nating at the vertical flange ol'the plates, In testimony whereof I affix my signature said out awayportions being adapted to pro in presence of two witnesses.

vide a housing for the heads 01 the securing LESLIE W. ACKERSONelements, and the horizontal portions of the flanges having their endsprovided with ori lices zlining with the outer edges of the baseWitnesses F. WARD, DANIEL LAUTERMAN.

